The Meaning of 1 Samuel 20:16 Explained

1 Samuel 20:16

KJV: So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

YLT: And Jonathan covenanteth with the house of David, and Jehovah hath sought it from the hand of the enemies of David;

Darby: And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let Jehovah even require it at the hand of David's enemies!

ASV: So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,'saying , And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David's enemies.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So Jonathan  made  [a covenant] with the house  of David,  [saying], Let the LORD  even require  [it] at the hand  of David's  enemies. 

What does 1 Samuel 20:16 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 20:1-16 - Friendship's Covenant
Life becomes intolerable when suspense is long drawn out; hence David's appeal to his friend. Besides, he yearned for one more glimpse of the dear home at Bethlehem, and to drink of "the well which was by the gate." The talk between the friends was heart-breaking to both. Only those who have experienced the severance of loving communion and intercourse can fathom the depth and bitterness of the waters that began to roll between the two friends.
Jonathan is one of the noblest types of manhood presented in Scripture biography. Whether in private or public life, he shone with peerless beauty, as a star in a dark sky. David said of him that he was "lovely and pleasant." Jonathan had a clear prevision of David's coming greatness, but it gave him no pang of jealousy. He loved his friend better than himself, so much, indeed, that it was a richer ecstasy for Jonathan to see David crowned and exalted than to ascend the throne himself. Love casts out jealousy. This friendship was ideal; and we can only ask that we may realize something of its sweetness, and know the love of Christ after the same fashion. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 20

1  David consults with Jonathan for his safety
11  Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath
18  Jonathan's token to David
23  Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan
35  Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 20:16 mean?

So made [a covenant] Jonathan with the house of David and [saying] let require [it] Yahweh at the hand of enemies of David
וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן עִם־ בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וּבִקֵּ֣שׁ יְהוָ֔ה מִיַּ֖ד אֹיְבֵ֥י דָוִֽד

וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת  So  made  [a  covenant] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן  Jonathan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹונָתָן  
Sense: a son of king Saul and a friend of David.
בֵּ֣ית  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
דָּוִ֑ד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
וּבִקֵּ֣שׁ  and  [saying]  let  require  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מִיַּ֖ד  at  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אֹיְבֵ֥י  of  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
דָוִֽד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.